HAVANAFEST 2014. Thank You.

[El Presidente]

God it is a long way back from Cuba for Aussies...36 hours from Jose Marti to landing on our shores. I can only say that every minute of excruciating travel is worth it

HAVANAFEST is only a tag line. It is simply a general term to coin a celebration of time with old friends and new in a country that is close to my heart.

We had an itinerary that went roughly to plan (a miracle in itself). Yet...itineraries..shemimaries...who cares. When you head to Cuba things will go right, things will go wrong. Yet with the right state of mind, you will always have an adventure and an adventure we all had!

i will not do a day by day review (you guys are doing a great job on that already). I will just do a little story here and there on what brought a smile to my face! In the end, i will wrap up all the threads of the teams postings and put them in a new thread to be posted in the classics section.

I really do want to say something however.

Thank you to all who were with me during the course of the 9 days and to those we bumped into throughout.

To each of you, your good nature and grace made it a pleasure to lead and for me it was never a task. I can't recall a single whinge on the trip but simply smiles, encouragement and people jumping in to help without asking.

It was a week of laughter, merriment and sharing. The newcomers to Cuba rejuvenated me with their wonderment of things I have taken for granted over the years. The old heads took it upon themselves to challenge me to new levels of debauchery. You are a good man Rob Fox

I want to thank Diana and the team here for getting things done in my absence. You all did a remarkable job. Also a thank you you to Lisa for pulling the final parts of the tour together when the Cuban side dropped the ball. You are a godsend and those on tour send a huge hug.

And finally to Mus who through no fault of his own was stalled on the tarmac and didn't get into Cuba. We missed you mate and you were never far from our thoughts. The definition of "Tragic" was you at the Jose Marti Airport and nothing that anyone could do. Nothing can erase that heartache but in the future, someway, somehow, we will wipe the memory through a trip of a lifetime.

[madandana]

Thanks to our fearless leader. So much fun was had and the trip was run smoothly. We didn't notice a ripple along the way.I'm sure challenges popped up but were handled without issue.Everyone was always friendly and helpful even to a couple on nubs who were just in awe of being in Cuba and in the presents of such great people.

[Habana Mike]

Thanks Pres for making this possible, one of the great experiences of my life.

Incredible group of people, amazing adventures and minimal challenges (like telecommunications).

Nothing like seeing Cuba Rob's way!

[GottaBeKD]

Good to see you made it home in one piece and just in time to start detoxing.

Thanks for the food, wine, beer, alcohol, and most of all the company and laughs.

Cheers

Khal

[...]

With all the recollections and pictures, I know I'll be daydreaming for two years and then will do all I can to tag along on the next instalment. Thank you all for sharing

[Bartolomeo]

Great to finally meet someone in person that I have corresponded with for the last 5 years over the web and phone, thanks Rob for everything on the trip....and that goes for the rest of you that I was blessed to meet, it was a pleasure, our paths may never cross again in person but we will all be friends from our experience last week in Cuba

[dobaman]

rob, you done a good job, here have a beer and a sanga

[AbuAmelia]

Great to finally meet someone in person that I have corresponded with for the last 5 years over the web and phone, thanks Rob for everything on the trip....and that goes for the rest of you that I was blessed to meet, it was a pleasure, our paths may never cross again in person but we will all be friends from our experience last week in Cuba

THIS!

Except for the 5 year part, I only have known El Prez for a year. He definitely is the funniest and truly a great person. I wonder if he found his glasses. Lol

Could not have said it better. Definitely Blessed to have traveled with this group. Meeting up with all of you from all walks of life, it was a real treat to have vacationed with everyone. I'm not going to lie, saying goodbye on my last night and walking away from a couple of the Aussies, I had a tear in my eye. Even if we never meet in Cuba again, I will travel to Australia to meet a few of you again. I couldn't go the rest of my life without seeing a Kangaroo. Lol

[El Presidente]

Ahhh yes.....our 5am finishing treat most nights. Glen, Foxy, Rob, Nate and myself had a little local hangout (fast food place) 30 meters from our house that was open 24 hours a day.

At around 5am each morning they would have just finished a leg of roasted pork and they made the best pulled pork sandwiches in Havana. Can't remember the price but I thing 5 pulled pork rolls, 5 beers, 10 CUC. Always a great way of finishing off the night!

[dobaman]

THIS!

Except for the 5 year part, I only have known El Prez for a year. He definitely is the funniest and truly a great person. I wonder if he found his glasses. Lol

Could not have said it better. Definitely Blessed to have traveled with this group. Meeting up with all of you from all walks of life, it was a real treat to have vacationed with everyone. I'm not going to lie, saying goodbye on my last night and walking away from a couple of the Aussies, I had a tear in my eye. Even if we never meet in Cuba again, I will travel to Australia to meet a few of you again. I couldn't go the rest of my life without seeing a Kangaroo. Lol

andrew, i found your honesty and compassion inspiring. i too was close to tears. when you come down under we will even let you feed the roos, you may even get shat on by a koala. these are treats available to the few

[AbuAmelia]

andrew, i found your honesty and compassion inspiring. i too was close to tears. when you come down under we will even let you feed the roos, you may even get shat on by a koala. these are treats available to the few

Lol.... Looking forward to it!

Thank you for your kind words bro.

[Guest rob]

Ahhh yes.....our 5am finishing treat most nights. Glen, Foxy, Rob, Nate and myself had a little local hangout (fast food place) 30 meters from our house that was open 24 hours a day.

At around 5am each morning they would have just finished a leg of roasted pork and they made the best pulled pork sandwiches in Havana. Can't remember the price but I thing 5 pulled pork rolls, 5 beers, 10 CUC. Always a great way of finishing off the night!

[LordAnubis]

Great to read all the trip reports mate and amazing things went to plan . Catch up at havanathon 2015. At least Brisbane won't refuse me entry

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryan]

Great stuff. I had a lunchtime cigar with Rob on Monday and he was filling me in some of the bits, not enough time in the hour..

He came back with some indigestion and I can see why from that picture above. That's the posture he maintains when he's trying to force down a throatful and his system is rejecting it!

So sorry I couldn't make this one. Looking forward to February more than ever,

That sandwich place looks great. It's at places like that you can meet some of the most fun people.

[helix]

Great big thanks to everyone , it was simply amazing!

[Bulldog4]

yes thanks rob and everyone who was there it was an amazing trip tons of laughs lots of debauchery and let me just say rob ayala you have thee best old havana tour ive ever been on i learned so much about George Washington and that pharmacy tour was brilliant! haha good times thanks for all the hard work you and the others put in.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Fuzz

[nutcracker]

Thanks guys - it was a fantatsic trip!

[CUBANO]

Thanks Prez for your hospitality. We had a great time.

[AbuAmelia]

Mi Amigos!

[CanuckSARTech]

Ahhh yes.....our 5am finishing treat most nights. Glen, Foxy, Rob, Nate and myself had a little local hangout (fast food place) 30 meters from our house that was open 24 hours a day.

At around 5am each morning they would have just finished a leg of roasted pork and they made the best pulled pork sandwiches in Havana. Can't remember the price but I thing 5 pulled pork rolls, 5 beers, 10 CUC. Always a great way of finishing off the night!

LOL. What an awesome picture of Foxy and Aussie Motorhead Lemmy!!!! LOL.